For the second year running the Mariners' cup campaign ended before it began on Wednesday night, this time at the hands of NSW NPL leaders Blacktown City.

Though the Gosford side did not play poorly, three cheap goals to Blacktown ensured the round-of-32 boilover, and simultaneously snapped their preseason record of zero losses and zero goals conceded in the preceding four games.

It took former A-League striker Joey Gibbs all of two minutes to secure Blacktown's lead via a free kick, before Giorgio Speranza put a second past Mariners goalkeeper Adam Pearce as Tom Glover, the new gloveman on loan from Tottenham, watched from the bench.

Kwabena Appiah netted either side of halftime to restore parity, but Gibbs completed his own brace to seal the 3-2 result, with eight minutes remaining.